GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES

ARE HOME CARE SUBSIDIES AVAILABLE?

THE MYAGEDCARE.GOV WEBSITE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW (if below doesn't make any sense, give us a call)

In 2013-14, the Australian Government provided over $1.2 billion for the Home Care Packages Programme. For 2014-15, the Government has committed over $1.3 billion.

As part of these reforms, the Australian government has significantly expanded access to home care services by increasing the number of home care places from around 66,000 places to around 100,000 places nationally by 2017. This is a fraction of the actual demand that will be required which is closer to 3 to 4 times this number. These reforms made up from Community Aged Care Packages (CACP) have created a multi tiered measurement for allocating funds, aged care packaged (ACP) and this correlates with the level of frailty as determined by an aged care assessment team (ACAT)

As key part of these initiative is the introduction of ‘consumer directed care’ (CDC) which means that the consumer can choose the level of involvement they wish to have in managing their package. These funds are allocated with the assumption that the aged client may regain the previous level of wellness that had prior to needing the package. This may or may not eventuate however the mission of the reforms are to keep people in their homes longer. The fact remains that much of this aged care funding goes into the administration and management of the package, leaving a much reduced figure available to pay for the carers that are to help the aged person at home.

Income Tested Care Fee Limits:

• Full pensioners aren’t required to pay an income tested care fee, however a basic fee may apply.
• Part-pensioners and those with equivalent incomes can be requested to pay income tested fees of no more than $5,000 a year.
• Self-funded retiree income tested fees are capped at $10,000 a year.
• The lifetime cap for income tested care fees is capped at $60,000.

Ask your Respite Now care manager if you would like to to be assessed to receive some government support.  We can facilitate or arrange an Aged Care Assessment Service to meet with you. See www.myagedcare.gov.au for further details give Jane or Greg a call on 1300 791 562 to find out more.
How do I know if a Home Care Package is right for me? Ask yourself these questions:

• Are you an older person who needs some help to stay in your own home?
• Are you struggling with some aspects of living at home, but you’re still able to manage most of the time?
• Do you think if you don’t get some help at home, you might have to go into an aged care home before you’re ready?
• Are you a younger person with a disability, dementia or other special care needs that are not met through specialist services?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you may be eligible for a Home Care Package.

There is no minimum age for accessing a Home Care Package, but you will need to be assessed as eligible by an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) or an Aged Care Assessment Service (ACAS) in Victoria. This is explained below.

What types of packages are available?There are four levels of Home Care Packages which are designed to give you the care you need:

• Level 1 supports people with basic care needs
• Level 2 supports people with low-level care needs (equivalent to the former Community Aged Care Packages)
• Level 3 supports people with intermediate care needs
• Level 4 supports people with high-level care needs (equivalent to the former Extended Aged Care at Home and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia packages).
• What if I have additional needs? Supplements are available to make sure you receive the care you need, which can include:

• Dementia and Cognition Supplement
• Veterans’ Supplement for veterans with service-related mental health conditions accepted by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
• Oxygen Supplement for people with an ongoing medical need for oxygen
• Enteral Feeding Supplement for people who need enteral feeding on an ongoing basis.

These supplements are available with any of the four levels of Home Care Packages. If you are eligible, your home care provider will receive some extra funding to make sure you receive the care you need. You do not need to apply for these supplements. Your home care provider will apply on your behalf, or in some cases, the supplement will be paid automatically to your provider.

Find out how you can make the most of consumer directed care by calling Respite Now and discussing how we can better assist you or your senior loved one. If you would like to tell us something, share a photo or take this months poll, go to the Community page or just click here

Call us 24/7 direct  0403 577 827 or 1300 791 562 or send us a message via our 'contact page' or if you prefer info@respitenow.com.au​

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